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Video Bitrate Calculator

Calculate the optimal video bitrate for streaming and encoding

Platform Presets

Video Settings

Recommended Bitrate

Recommended Bitrate

8.0 Mbps

Range: 5.6 Mbps – 10.4 Mbps

Resolution

1080p FHD

Frame Rate (fps)

30 fps

H.264 / AVC

High

10 min

600.0 MB

Platform Recommended Bitrates

PlatformResolutionFPSBitrate
1080p FHD308.0 Mbps
1080p FHD6012.0 Mbps
4K UHD3035.0 Mbps
1080p FHD606.0 Mbps
1080p FHD305.0 Mbps
1080p FHD3010.0 Mbps
1080p FHD305.0 Mbps

Frequently asked questions

What bitrate should I use for YouTube?

YouTube recommends 8 Mbps for 1080p@30fps (H.264) and 12 Mbps for 1080p@60fps. For 4K content, 35–45 Mbps in VP9 is recommended.

What is the max bitrate for Twitch streaming?

Twitch currently caps most streamers at 6 Mbps. For 1080p@60fps at that bitrate, use H.264 with a moderate quality preset.

Does a higher bitrate always mean better quality?

Up to a point, yes. Beyond the 'transparent' threshold for a given resolution and codec, extra bits provide no visible quality improvement. Modern codecs like H.265/HEVC and AV1 achieve the same quality at roughly half the bitrate of H.264.

Which codec should I use for YouTube uploads?

YouTube accepts H.264 (most compatible), H.265, VP9, and AV1. Uploading in H.264 at a high bitrate is safest. YouTube will re-encode to VP9 or AV1 on its end for delivery.